Press Release

Press Release

June 04, 2025

AHMEDABAD RING ROAD INFRASTRUCTURE LIMITED
Rating Reaffirmed

Product	Quantum (Rs. Cr)	Long Term Rating	Short Term Rating
Non Convertible Debentures (NCD)	367.00	ACUITE BB \| Stable \| Reaffirmed	-
Total Outstanding	367.00	-	-
Total Withdrawn	0.00	-	-

Rating Rationale

Acuité has reaffirmed its long-term rating of 'ACUITE BB' (read as ACUITE double B) on Rs. 367.00 Cr. Non-Convertible Debentures of Ahmedabad Ring Road Infrastructure Limited (ARRIL). The outlook is 'Stable'.

Rationale for rating
The rating reaffirmation factors in the strong operational track record of the Sardar Patel Ring Road project for more than 15 years with consistent growth in traffic and tariff rates. The revenue growth is also strengthened by the increasing car compensation receipts from Ahmedabad Urban Development Authority (AUDA). However, the rating continues to remain constrained on account of delay in receipt of balance proceeds from the stake sale in Maharashtra Border Check Post Network Limited (MBCPNL) and recovery of GST receivables which is critical to service the debt obligations in the near to medium term. Moreover, the continued growth in revenue remains susceptible to timely operational and maintenance (O&M) of the road, to be carried by the company.

About the Company

Ahmedabad Ring Road Infrastructure Limited (ARRIL) is a special purpose vehicle (SPV) promoted by Sadbhav Engineering Limited (SEL) through its step-down subsidiary, Sadbhav Infrastructure Projects Limited (SIPL), for implementing the ring road project around the municipal limits of Ahmedabad city. The project was awarded by Ahmedabad Urban Development Authority (AUDA) for broadening the then existing 76 km two-lane ring road around Ahmedabad to four lanes along with operation and maintenance of the same up to December 2026 on a Build, Operate and Transfer (BOT) model. The project (commonly known as Sardar Patel Ring Road) comprises of seven toll plazas having 56 toll lines, was completed at a total cost of Rs. 514.96 Cr., financed through term loan of Rs. 405 Cr. and balance through equity/grant, achieved commercial operations date (COD) on June 30, 2008.
Consequently, in August 2024, the company raised additional debt through non-convertible debentures (NCD) of Rs. 334 Cr. utilised towards repayment of existing debt of ARRIL (Rs. 86 Cr.), repayment of its parent's (SIPL) and ultimate parent's (SEL) lenders (Rs. 205 Cr.) and balance towards its operational creditors and issue expenses. These NCDs are primarily secured against the cashflows of the company, residual charge on the balance proceeds from the stake sale of MBCPNL to Adani Group and recovery of GST claims from National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) under change in law clauses on the group’s three hybrid annuity road projects.
The present directors of the company are Mr. Mahendrasinh Rajusinh Chavada, Mr. Jatin Thakkar, Mr. Purushottambhai Bhulabhai Patel, Mr. Jignasu Yogendrabhai Dixit and Mr. Tarang Madhukar Desai.

Unsupported Rating

Not Applicable

Analytical Approach

Acuité has considered the standalone business and financial risk profile of ARRIL to arrive at the rating.

Key Rating Drivers

Strengths

Strong operational track record with increasing operating revenues
ARRIL has been operating and maintaining the project since July 2008, establishing a strong operational track record of more than fifteen years. The project stretch connects various national highways, state highways and other urban roads of Ahmedabad with 19 major roads of various categories either connecting or crossing this road. Further, the substantial growth of industrial and commercial activities around Ahmedabad, coupled with a rising population, has contributed significantly to economic development and a corresponding increase in traffic. Also, the concession agreement permits for increase in toll rates every year in the month of September based on the average wholesale price index (WPI) of last one year ended in March as compared with that of preceding financial year. Therefore, the increasing traffic volumes and tariffs has contributed to the consistent growth in ARRIL’s revenue with Rs. 266.67 Cr. in FY25 as compared to Rs. 235.42 Cr. in FY24. Further, the revenue also includes compensation of Rs. 81.62 Cr. in FY25 (Rs. 70.74 Cr. in FY24) from AUDA towards the exemption of toll charges on passenger vehicles.

Waterfall mechanism in escrow account for debt servicing
ARRIL has escrow mechanism through which the cash flows from toll collections and authority is routed and used for payment as per the defined payment waterfall. Only surplus cash flow after meeting statutory payments, operating and maintenance expense, and debt servicing obligation, can be utilised as per borrower’s discretion during the concession period.

Weaknesses

Delay in recovery of GST claims and MBCPNL stake sale proceeds
In FY25, the debt servicing of NCDs to the tune of Rs. 59.22 Cr. was managed through the cashflows of ARRIL. Further, the group has claimed ~Rs. 215 Cr. towards GST recovery under the change in law clauses for its three HAM projects for which receipts are expected to flow from September 2025. Also, the balance stake sale proceeds of MBCPNL of Rs. 192.50 Cr., which was earlier expected in February 2025 is yet to be received by SIPL. Moreover, the recent announcement by Government of Maharashtra on closure of the RTO points of MBCPNL and its impact on the receipt of balance proceeds shall be a rating monitorable.
Since a major chunk of the NCD repayments are due in the remaining period of FY26 (Rs. 115.07 Cr.) and Q1FY27 (Rs. 124.60 Cr.), therefore, timely receipts of these proceeds are critical for debt servicing and shall remain a key rating sensitivity.

Susceptibility of toll collections to operation and maintenance works
With the increasing traffic movement, the road requires operation and maintenance on a periodic basis to be carried by the company. Further, along with this there is a major maintenance (MM) work which the SPV needs to perform every five years. Therefore, for the routine maintenance, the company has entered into a contract with SEL and for major maintenances it creates provisions on a yearly basis.
However, failing to perform the timely maintenance will affect the operating revenues, thereby, affecting the debt servicing capability of the company.

Assessment of Adequacy of Credit Enhancement under various scenarios including stress scenarios (applicable for ratings factoring specified support considerations with or without the “CE” suffix)

ARRIL maintains a escrow mechanism with waterfall mechanism.

Stress case Scenario
Acuité believes that given the presence of waterfall payment in escrow mechanism, ARRIL will be able to service its debt on time, even in a stress scenario.

ESG Factors Relevant for Rating

The infrastructure development industry has a significant social impact, as it is a labour-intensive business. Social issues significant for the industry are community support and development, employee safety and human rights. Governance issues that are relevant include board and management compensation, transparency in related party transactions, shareholder’s rights and board diversity. The extent of direct or indirect emissions and the efficiency of deployment of vehicle fleets and heavy machinery has a considerable impact in the environmental performance of this industry. Since material costs are relatively high, strategies should be in place to reduce wastages and recycle raw materials to the extent possible to minimize the environmental impact.
SEL, the sponsor company, has policies in corporate governance category on board independence, key management retention and business conduct and ethics. The company has designated committees for corporate social responsibility (CSR), risk management, stakeholders’ relationship, nomination and remuneration amongst others. The company has a total of 5 number of board of directors out of which 2 are executive directors, 2 non-executive directors and 1 independent director. The company has CSR committee consisting of 3 members with major focus on promoting education, health care, sustainable livelihood, protection of the environment, infrastructure development, eradicating hunger and poverty amongst others.

Rating Sensitivities

Any reduction in traffic leading to lower than estimated toll collections
Timey receipts of GST receivables from NHAI or MBCPNL proceeds for debt servicing

All Covenants

There shall be deleveraging event wherein Rs. 100 Cr. shall be paid towards total due of investment amount.
Achievement of deleveraging event within two years from the date of investment
On receipt of MBCPNL Proceeds and GST claims, the same shall permitted to be utilised first towards repayment of the debt borrowed from Allianz consortium to the extent of Rs. 138 Cr. Any cashflows over and above this, shall be solely utilised towards servicing of total dues.
No further/ additional construction shall be done on the mortgaged land parcels without prior approvals from the investors.
SIPL shall not divest any stake in ARRIL till the total dues are fully repaid.

Liquidity Position

Adequate

In FY25, the company generated cash accruals of Rs. 99.70 Cr., to repay maturing debt obligations of Rs. 96.94 Cr. Moreover, consistent growth in the cash accruals, timely receipt of GST claims and balance stake sale proceeds of MBCPNL shall be critical for debt servicing in the near to medium term.

Outlook: Stable

Other Factors affecting Rating

None

Key Financials

Particulars	Unit	FY 25 (Actual)	FY 24 (Actual)
Operating Income	Rs. Cr.	266.67	235.42
PAT	Rs. Cr.	61.08	68.81
PAT Margin	(%)	22.90	29.23
Total Debt/Tangible Net Worth	Times	0.88	0.44
PBDIT/Interest	Times	2.68	5.39

FY2025 numbers are based on abridged financials.

Status of non-cooperation with previous CRA (if applicable)

Not Applicable

Interaction with Audit Committee anytime in the last 12 months (applicable for rated-listed / proposed to be listed debt securities being reviewed by Acuite)

Although Acuite requested an interaction with the Audit Committee the issuer entity was unable to arrange it.

Any other information

None

Applicable Criteria

• Default Recognition :- https://www.acuite.in/view-rating-criteria-52.htm
• Infrastructure Sector: https://www.acuite.in/view-rating-criteria-51.htm
• Application Of Financial Ratios And Adjustments: https://www.acuite.in/view-rating-criteria-53.htm

Note on complexity levels of the rated instrument

In order to inform the investors about complexity of instruments, Acuité has categorized such instruments in three levels: Simple, Complex and Highly Complex. Acuite’s categorisation of the instruments across the three categories is based on factors like variability of the returns to the investors, uncertainty in cash flow patterns, number of counterparties and general understanding of the instrument by the market. It has to be understood that complexity is different from credit risk and even an instrument categorized as 'Simple' can carry high levels of risk. For more details, please refer Rating Criteria “Complexity Level Of Financial Instruments” on www.acuite.in.

Rating History

Date	Name of Instruments/Facilities	Term	Amount (Rs. Cr)	Rating/Outlook
04 Jun 2024	Proposed Non Convertible Debentures	Long Term	367.00	ACUITE BB \| Stable (Assigned)

Annexure - Details of instruments rated

Lender’s Name	ISIN	Facilities	Date Of Issuance	Coupon Rate	Maturity Date	Quantum (Rs. Cr.)	Complexity Level	Rating
Not Applicable	INE091I07011	Non-Convertible Debentures (NCD)	23 Aug 2024	20.00	30 Jun 2026	334.00	Simple	ACUITE BB \| Stable \| Reaffirmed
Not Applicable	Not avl. / Not appl.	Proposed Non Convertible Debentures	Not avl. / Not appl.	Not avl. / Not appl.	Not avl. / Not appl.	33.00	Simple	ACUITE BB \| Stable \| Reaffirmed

Contacts

Mohit Jain
Senior Vice President - Rating Operations

Akshit Agrawal
Associate Analyst - Rating Operations

Contact details exclusively for investors and lenders

Mob: +91 8591310146
Email ID: analyticalsupport@acuite.in

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Acuité is a full-service Credit Rating Agency registered with the Securities & Exchange Board of India (SEBI). The company received RBI Accreditation as an External Credit Assessment Institution (ECAI) for Bank Loan Ratings under BASEL-II norms in the year 2012. Acuité has assigned ratings to various securities, debt instruments and bank facilities of entities spread across the country and across a wide cross section of industries. It has its Registered and Head Office in Kanjurmarg, Mumbai.

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